CONSTRUCTION of a multi-million pound link road in Bridgwater is set to start in April following the signing of a key contract. 

The £18.4m Colley Lane Southern Access Road (CLSAR) plans include two new bridges, 840 metres of carriageway and new cycle and footways.

The new carriageway will help ease congestion along Taunton Road and Broadway by connecting Parrett Way to Marsh Lane and provide access to the Colley Lane Industrial Estate from the south.

It will also open up brownfield development sites between the River Parrett and the Taunton and Bridgwater Canal to support the delivery of planned housing and employment land.

Somerset County Council has signed a contract with construction firm Whitemountain and agreed a formal start date of Wednesday April 4 but  preparatory and site clearance works are already well underway.

Councillor David Fothergill, leader of Somerset County Council, said: “The long-awaited Colley Lane scheme will benefit both residents and businesses and help to ease congestion by taking traffic away from Taunton Road and Broadway.

“We’re all keen to get going and are pleased to have Whitemountain on board and a start date confirmed.

"We’re already working on the detailed plans for delivery and look forward to seeing even more activity on site in the coming weeks and months.”

Whitemountain will be employing a dedicated public liaison officer as part of a commitment to keeping people up to date with progress.

They will also be holding drop-in events before work begins.

Mark Kelly, MD of Whitemountain, said: “We are delighted to deliver the much anticipated Colley Lane Southern Access Road Project on behalf of Somerset County Council and fully understand the importance of the project to the local community.

"Whitemountain are committed to delivering a quality project that exceeds client expectations on time and within budget.

“We look forward to engaging with and supporting Somerset County Council and are committed to providing social value and community welfare in the delivery of the project, fully aligned with Somerset County Council’s Sustainability Plan.”

The £18.4m Colley Lane scheme will be funded by developer contributions from EDF S106 contributions, £9.38m from housing developers S106 contributions, £3m from DfT Productivity Investment Fund and up to £4m from the Somerset County Council capital programme.

Councillor Duncan McGinty, leader of Sedgemoor District Council, said: “We are pleased to see that this necessary and long-promised road scheme is finally happening – we are grateful to all parties coming together to turn this long planned scheme into a reality.”

David Eccles, EDF Energy’s Head of Stakeholder Engagement for Hinkley Point C, said EDF is 'delighted' to contribute to the project as it will ease congestion. 

 “Congestion in Bridgwater has been getting steadily worse over many years as the town has grown and become more prosperous. EDF Energy is delighted to be able to contribute around £2m towards the Colley Lane scheme which will help ease the problem," Mr Eccles said.

“The funding is part of our wider commitment to support local communities and services through agreements, worth almost £100 million, to build Hinkley Point C.

"EDF Energy has already delivered around £20 million of road improvements in and around the Bridgwater area and Colley Lane will further help traffic flows in the town.”